A British firefighter backpacking in Bali helped rescue a woman who fell into the crater of an active volcano by organising a human chain to lift her to safety.
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John Conway, who is currently enjoying a solo holiday on the Indonesian island, came to the aid of a woman after she fell 40 metres from a viewing platform.
The 33-year-old West Midlands firefighter stayed with the woman for six hours stemming her blood using only wet wipes, tissues and tape until she arrived at the hospital.
He had just completed a sunrise trek to the top of Mount Batur, which stands 1717 metres (5,633ft) above sea level, when the woman fell into a volcanic crater on the popular tourist route.
The trauma-trained firefighter helped coordinate the rescue effort, asking people to take off their shirts and coats to keep her warm and ensuring she stayed conscious by repeatedly pinching her arm.
Firefighter John Conway / West Midlands Fire Service
Other trekkers, including a nurse who was also on the hike, then formed a human chain to lift the woman to safety during an hour-long operation.
The volunteers then faced a gruelling five hour descent to the bottom of the volcano, taking turns to carry the woman on a stretcher which someone had fetched from further down the volcano.
“She was clearly in a very bad way,” explained Mr Conway, who is based at Highgate Community Fire Station in Birmingham.
“She was bleeding a lot and turning blue. I found out there was no air ambulance and the first aid supplies were really poor. All I had to use were some wet wipes, tissues and tape.”
Firefighter John Conway / West Midlands Fire Service
Once they finally reached the ambulance, which had no trained paramedics on board, they faced a two hour journey to the nearest hospital.
“The nurse and I went with her, and I was crouched in the back of the ambulance the whole way. It was a nightmare journey. What little oxygen there was ran out half way, and we had to stop for fuel.”
He added it was a “miracle she survived” given the extent of her injuries, calling it “unbelievable”.
“She’s still in hospital, but she’s managed to get thanks to me for what we were able to do,” he said.
“We’ll be keeping in touch but the important thing for now is that she gets well and flies home as soon as she can.”
John’s Watch Commander, Chris Gauntlett, praised his actions: “I’m not at all surprised to hear that he did everything he could to help this young woman.
“I’ve managed to have a brief chat with him to check he’s OK, and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back to the station.”